IMPACT announces transition in Coordinated Entry leadership while strengthening its continued role in Milwaukee’s housing support system

For more than a decade, IMPACT has served as the lead agency for Milwaukee County’s Coordinated Entry (CE) system - one of the most significant community-wide efforts to equitably connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness with shelter and housing resources. After a thoughtful evaluation process, IMPACT notified the Milwaukee Coalition on Housing and Homelessness that it will not apply to continue in the lead role when the current contract expires at the end of the year.

Although IMPACT prepares to shift from CE system leadership, IMPACT 211 will maintain its trusted role as the community’s 24-hour front door to housing assistance.

A Mission-Driven Legacy of Leadership

Since CE launched in 2013, IMPACT has guided its evolution during a period of major system change, resource constraints, and rising community need. The program helped reshape how Milwaukee County responds to homelessness - standardizing assessment, increasing transparency, and ensuring a more equitable pathway to available housing programs. Since January, IMPACT's Coordinated Entry team has served 4,313 unduplicated clients, a 27 percent increase over 2024.

“IMPACT has been involved in our community’s coordinated response to housing instability and homelessness for decades,” said John Hyatt, IMPACT President & CEO. “We’re proud to have been part of CE’s development, and grateful for our partners who learned alongside us and supported one another through a large-scale system improvement effort.”

Ultimately, however, significant financial challenges and increasingly restrictive funding streams made it impossible to sustain the staffing and service levels the program requires. Grants that once supported operations were reduced or constrained in ways that prevented IMPACT from allocating resources where they were most needed. After extensive review, IMPACT determined that continuing to serve as the CE lead agency was no longer feasible.

“It was through no easy decision that we landed where we did,” Hyatt said. “But stepping back allows the next phase of CE leadership to carry it into the future.”

A Strong Future Under Milwaukee County Leadership

In November 2025, the Milwaukee Coalition on Housing and Homelessness approved Milwaukee County’s bid to serve as the next Coordinated Entry lead agency beginning in January 2026. Milwaukee County’s Department of Health and Human Services already provides street outreach, housing programs, and crisis services - making this a natural and promising transition.



IMPACT 211: the Front Door for Housing Help

While the lead CE role is changing, one thing is not: residents in need of emergency shelter or housing assistance should continue to call 211.

As Southeastern Wisconsin’s designated provider of 24-hour information and referral services, IMPACT 211 will continue to:

• Serve as the primary access point for those seeking emergency shelter or homelessness prevention services.
• Use customized housing screening tools to ensure eligibility and accurate referral to CE assessment, shelter referral and housing navigation.
• Train Community Resource Specialists in CE protocols to streamline access and reduce delays.
• Collect and share essential data with system partners and funders to identify gaps, trends, and emerging community needs.

Moving Forward, Together

IMPACT’s commitment to those experiencing housing instability remains unwavering. The organization will continue to be a critical component in Milwaukee County’s housing support network - ensuring that when someone in crisis reaches out, they are met with compassion, expertise, and a clear next step.



Hyatt concluded, “We are proud of the work we’ve done and confident in the work that lies ahead. IMPACT 211 will continue to stand as a lifeline for our community, and we look forward to supporting the next version of Coordinated Entry in Milwaukee County.”

>>> Read Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service: IMPACT stepping aside from coordinating services in Milwaukee County for people experiencing a housing crisis

Every day, IMPACT helps people get access to resources to help keep their heat, lights, and other utilities on. With your gift, we can continue to make sure those who need assistance paying their utility bills know where to turn. Be the impact.

Since 1960, IMPACT has helped people take the first step toward changing their life, for good. We assess and guide those experiencing personal crisis toward resources to achieve stability; and collaborate with community partners to foster system improvement throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.